Datafolha: Flamengo still Brazil's biggest fanbase, widens lead | OneFootball

Updated survey shows national preference and details Flamengo’s superiority over its main rivals

Brazilian football remains red-and-black at the top! A new Datafolha survey, released this Saturday (01), confirms Flamengo as the absolute leader in number of supporters in national preference. 22% of Brazilians declare their passion for the Rio club. The advantage over the second-place team in fanbase size has increased significantly in the historical series that began in 1993.

Corinthians hold second place with 14% of the preference. Next come Palmeiras with 7%, São Paulo with 6%, Cruzeiro with 4%, Vasco with 3%, and Grêmio with 3%.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian national team, Atlético-MG, Internacional, Santos, and Fluminense each recorded 2%. Bahia, Botafogo, Vitória, Athletico-PR, Sport, and Remo appear with 1%. Finally, people without a club account for 22% of the total, a figure that reaches 29% among women and 13% among men.

The fieldwork took place on July 22 and 23, interviewing 2,004 people aged 16 or older in 139 municipalities across Brazil’s five regions. Thus, the margin of error is set at two percentage points either way, while the confidence level reaches 95%.

WHAT IS THE FULL LIST?

HOW BIG IS FLAMENGO’S RED-AND-BLACK PASSION ACROSS BRAZIL?

Flamengo’s dominance goes beyond the borders of Rio de Janeiro and leads across multiple geographic segments. In the Northeast, preference for Mengão reaches 29% of respondents.

In addition, in the Central-West and North regions, the impressive figure reaches 34%. In the Southeast, Corinthians are numerically ahead with 20%, while Flamengo reaches 16%. However, considering the specific margin of error of three percentage points for the regional breakdown, there is a technical tie between the two rivals, followed by São Paulo with 10%, Palmeiras with 9%, and Cruzeiro with 8%.

WHAT DOES THE SCENARIO LOOK LIKE IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY?

By contrast, the southern region is home to strong traditional local forces, but it also has a strong Flamengo presence. Thus, Grêmio with 20% and Internacional with 15% lead the region. Right behind them comes Flamengo with 11%, ahead of Corinthians with 9%, Palmeiras with 7%, and Athletico-PR with 4%.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDERS IN PREFERENCE?

Flamengo’s lead remains absolute among both men and women. In short, the male public records 24% preference for the Rio club, followed by Corinthians with 15%, Palmeiras with 8%, and São Paulo with 7%. Among the female public, Flamengo’s figure stands at 20%, against Corinthians’ 13%, Palmeiras’ 6%, and São Paulo’s 5%.

HOW DID FLAMENGO’S HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATION HAPPEN?

Flamengo’s successful trajectory was built solidly over decades. At the start of the historical series in 1993, the red-and-black club showed 17%, against Corinthians’ 10%. The São Paulo rival narrowed the gap until reaching a tie at 16% in 2012.

Since then, Mengão regained the lead over Corinthians with a progressive widening of the gap: 18% to 14% in 2014, 18% to 14% in 2018, 20% to 14% in 2019, 21% to 15% in 2023, 19% to 14% in 2024, and now 22% to 14%.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE RECENT TITLES?

Although Flamengo has always had the biggest fanbase in the country, even in periods without major titles, recent success on the pitch helped further boost its supporter base. Since 2019, the club has lifted three Libertadores trophies in 2019, 2022, and 2025, won the Brazilian Championship in 2019, 2020, and 2025, claimed two Copa do Brasil titles in 2022 and 2024, and also celebrated three Brazilian Super Cups in the 2020, 2021, and 2025 seasons.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.